KINGFISHER. 61 



FAM. ALCEDINID^E. 



KINGFISHEE. Alcedo ispida, L. 



Yarrell, ii. p. 443 ; Harting, p. 34 ; Dresser, v. p. 113 ; Seebohm, 

 ii. p. 341 ; Ibis List, p. 80; Pulteney's List, v. p. 6. 



The Kingfisher is a resident, and generally dis- 

 tributed throughout the county. Notwithstanding 

 its resplendent plumage, it continues to escape ex- 

 termination, partly from its fecundity, and partly 

 from the inaccessible position of its nest, which is 

 frequently at some depth within the river-bank. A 

 curious instance occurred in 1884 of the instinctive 

 capacity displayed by a pair of Kingfishers in dis- 

 covering fish which had been introduced in a locality 

 far removed from their usual haunts, and so placed 

 as to necessitate a considerable journey through 

 woods and across downs. At the Down House, 

 which stands about a hundred and twenty feet above 

 the valley of the Stour, and a mile and a half distant 

 from the river, the water supply being dependent 

 upon a deep well, the owner, Sir William Harriot, 

 remedied the deficiency by a " ram " erected on the 

 Stour, which pumped up the water and conveyed it 

 by underground pipes to the house. This not only 

 satisfied the requirements of the establishment, but 

 enabled him to have some ornamental waterworks 

 and a fish-culture apparatus, from which the fry as 

 soon as they were hatched were removed to a pond of 

 no very large dimensions. It was to this pond the 

 Kingfishers found their way, and committed great 



